Starch ing-machine



(No Model.) 1 L. REYNOLDS.

STARGHING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 27,1895.

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LAVERN REYNOLDS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

STARCHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 545,134, dated August27, 1895. I

Application filed April 11, 1894. Serial No. 507,192. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAVERN REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Starching-Machinesfor Laundries, 850.; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable othersto make and use the same, reference being had to'the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention has for its objects, first, to enable the starch to beapplied to and forced into the fabric without abrasion; second, tofacilitate the penetration of the starch through one or more thicknessesof fabric and enable the deposit of the starch to be obtained inincreased quantities.

My invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, such as will first be fully described, and specifically pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the improved starching apparatusin perspective shown mounted upon its pedestal, and also showing thesteam-pipes connected with the receptacle and the devices communicatingpower to the compressing-plate. Fig, 2 is a vertical sectional view ofthe starching-machinewith the lower portion of the pedestal broken away.Fig. 3 is a detail view in per spective of the yielding starchrecharging plate. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the perforatedcompressing-plate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Referring to the drawin A represents the receptacle forholding thestarch and starching apparatus, which consists of a box nearly square ii-form and of a proper depth.

a and a represent the front and rear ends,

respectively, of the box, and a 0. its sides.

a is the bottom of the box.

The box A is mounted upon a pedestal B, which extends upwardly therequired height, and to which the bottom of the box is bolted in theusual manner. The cover at the top of the box consists of the separateplates a a. The plate a extends from the upper edge of the side a to theupper edge of the side a and from the upper edge of the end a" to apoint the screws 0', which screws are made to enter in a suitable mannerthe plate a The plate a which forms the other portion of the cover ofthe box, extends from the inner edge of the plate 0. to the upper edgeof the end a of the box, and also from the upper edge of one side to theupper edge of the other side of the box, in the same manner as theportion a and is made to slide to and from the portion a in the mannerhereinafter described. To the side a of the box A, near the end a, is attached one end of guide-plateaF, the other end of which plate extends atright angles over the upper side of the plate a. Upon the other side aof the box is a guide-plate 0. which extends over the upper side of theplate 0. in the same manner as the plate (1 To the side a of the boxnear the inner edge of the plate a is attached a guide-plate a whichextends longitudinally of the box a considerable distance or about thedistance in which the portion a of the cover is permitted to retract inopening, and the upper portion is bent at right angles over the upperside of the sliding portion a. of the cover.

Upon the side a of the box is a guide-plate a which is arranged in asimilar position and corresponds in length to the guide-plate a".Extendingin an upward direction a short distance above the upper surfaceof the plate a, between the guide-plates a a and attached rigidly tosaid plate a, is a strip 0. the inner side of which is flush with theinner edge of the said plate a To the under side portion of the slidingplate a, at a point one-third the distance from the inner edge in thedirection of the outer edge of said plate,

and also nearly the same distance described from the inner portion ofthe side a in the direction of the side a is connected adj ustably theupper end of a brace-bar D, the lower end of which bar extends in adownward direction to Within a short distance of the bottom of of thebox. Upon the upper portion of the bar D, toward the inner side of theend a and close against the under side oi. the platen, is a lug (Z. Uponthe lower end of said bar D, and extending also from the said bar towardthe inner portion of the side a of the box, is a lug d. Directly abovethe upper end of the bar D and its lug (l and in the plate a are theslots n 0,, which are in a single line. In the upper end of the bar Dand its lug d are threaded perforations, and said bar D is held firmlyin position by the screws or a in said slots e a.

To the under side portion of the plate a",

at a point precisely the same distance from the inner portion of theside a that the bar I) is from the side a is attached adj ustably a barD, which is provided with lugs upon the side toward the end a andextends the same distance in the direction of the bottom a as the bar D.In the top plate a are slots a a ,in which are adj llSilHg-SGIGWSconnected with the upper end of the brace-bar D in the same manner asthe screws a are connected with the bar D. The upper end portion of barD, a short distance beneath the plate a, is perforated, whichperforation extends through the lugd in thedirection of the end a of thebox, and in which perforation is inserted loosely one end of a bolt (1Through said end of the bolt d which extends a short distance beyond thelug cl, is inserted in a transverse direction a pin 61 The lower end ofthe bar D is also perforated in the same manner and direction as theupper end, and through said perforation is inserted one end of a bolt (1through the said end of which bolt is inserted in a transverse directiona pin Through the bar D are made perforations at the same points and inthe same direction as in the bar D, and through said perforations areinserted bolts d al which are retained by the pins (1 in precisely thesame manner as the bolts (1 d. The other ends of the respective bolts dd d d extend toward the central portion of the box to a position equalto that described by the inner edge of the plate a and to a line drawnvertically from said edge. To said ends of said bolts is attachedrigidly a rectangular fiat plate E, which extends from the inner portionof the side a to the inner portion of the side a in one direction andfrom the under side portion of the plate a in a downward direction thesame distance as described by the lower ends of the bars D D. Said plateis arranged to move withoutfrictional contact with the inner sides ofthe box in its operation. Around the bolt (1 and between the said bar I)and the plate E is placed a spiral spring 6, and around the bolt dbetween the said bar D and plate E, is placed a spiral spring 6, both ofwhich springs are of sufficient tension to keep the plate projectedforward and receive the compression hereinafterdescribed.

Upon the respective bolts (1 d are also spiral springs which areprecisely the same and arranged in position in the same manner as thesprings upon the bolts (1 (1 Through the upper portion of the plate E,near the edge, are perforations (2 which are close together and extendthe length of said plate. Near the lower edge of said plate are similarperforations c and the sides of the plateE are also perforated. A thickcloth a, preferably woolen, extends the length and width of plate E andis connected thereto by sewing through the cloth and through theperforations 6 described in the upper edge, thence along both sides ofsaid plate, and also at the lower edge of plate E by sewing through thecloth and perforations c in the same manner as described at the upperedge and sides. Over the thick woolen cloth e is extended a piece ofcloth 6 preferably light cotton or cheese cloth and thinner in texturethan the cloth a. The cloth 6 is connected with the upper and loweredges and sides of the plate E in the same manner as described inconnecting the cloth 6, both of said pieces of cloth forming a pad orcushion, which prevents all strain upon the garment and receives thestarch, as hereinafter described.

In box A and attached rigidly to the bottom 0. of the box at a point ashort distance from the inner portion of the end a, and also acorresponding distance from the side a of said box, is a lugf. In thefixed portion a of the cover of the box is a longitudinal slot a. To thelug f is pivotally attached the lower end of a vibrating bar F, theupper end of which bar extends upwardly through the slot a and a shortdistance above the upper side of the portion a of the top of box A. Inthe direction of the side a of the box and at a point the same distancefrom the inner portion of said side and end a of said box as the lugf isfrom the side a and end a is-attached a log f In the portion a of thetop isa slot at", which is parallel with the slot a To the lug f isattached the lower end of a vibrating bar F, which extends upwardlythrough the slot a". To the bar F', a short distance above a point uponthe said bar eqnidistant fronn its pivotal point on the lugf to the topof the box, is pivoted a V-shaped brace G, the separate arms g g ofwhich brace extend from the pivotal point on bar F at an angle to eachother and in the direction of plate E. To the brace-bar F is pivoted aV-shaped brace-bar G, which is precisely the same as the brace-bar G andextends in the same direction. To the outer ends of the brace-bars G Gis rigidly attached a flat perforated plate H, which extends from theinner portion of the side a, to the inner portion of the side a Theupper edge of the plate II extends nearly to the under side of portion aof the cover, and the lower edge extends in a downward direction thesame distance as described by the plate E. Upon the lower edge of plateH is a flange h, which extends at right angles to said plate and in thedirection of the bars F F. Attached fixedly to the inner side portion ofthe bottom a beneath the flange h on the plate H, is a T-shaped. bearingor table I, which extends from the inner portion of the side a to theinner portion of the side a and upon which the flange h of the plate Hslides when the plate H is operated. To the outer side portion of theend a of the box A, within lines drawn through the said box upon theslots (1 a" and parallel therewith, are attached. fixedly the brackets KK. The bracket K extends outwardly and in an upward direction above theplane of the top plate a a short distance, and the bracket K extendsupwardly atprecisely the same height.

In the outer ends of the brackets K K is journaled a shaft L, and uponsaid shaft between said brackets is mounted a gear-wheel M. To. the endof the shaft L, which extends a short distance beyond the outer sideportion of the bracket K, is attached a disk Z, and to the side of disk6, nearthe outer edge, is pivoted one end of a bar N, the other end ofwhich bar is pivoted at f to the end of the vibrating bar F. Upon theother end of shaft L, which extends a short distance beyond the outerside portion of the bracket K, is attached a disk l. To the disk Z ispivotally attached one end of a bar N at the same point as the bar N isattached to the disk Z. The other end of the bar N is pivotally attachedto the end of the vibrating bar F".

To the pedestal 13, directly beneath the box A, is rigidly secured oneend of a bracket 0, the other end of which bracket extends in an outwarddirection to a point vertically in line with the shaft L, carryinggear-wheel M, at which point the said outer end is extended in an upwarddirection a short distance. In the outer end of the bracket 0 isjournaled in a horizontal position a shaft 0, one end of which shaftextends to a point beneath the gear M and is provided with a pinion P,which meshes with the said wheel M. The other end of shaft 0 extends toa position nearly in the plane of the side a of the box, and upon saidend is fixed a pulley R. Upon shaft 0 is also placed a loose pulley S,which is close in position to the pulley R. Upon the loose pulley S is apower-driven belt T, which is connected with a suitablepower-transmitting pulley above the machine. (Not shown in thedrawings.)

Secured to the box A, near the portion a of the cover and opposite thebelt T, is a bolt-keeper U, in which is supported one end of ahorizontally-sliding bolt to, the other end of said bolt being supportedin a bolt-keeper similar to the keeper U, attached to the end of the boxnear bracket K. Upon bolt u are the outwardly-extended belt-shiftingarms a it, which pass beyond the sides of the belt T. Upon the portion aof the top of the box is pivoted a bell-crank lever V, one end of whichextends to a point over the bolt u, and is connected with said bolt bymeans of a pin '0. A short distance from the strip c on the portion a ofthe top of the box and near the side a is a shaft-bearing w, and uponthe other portion of the cover near the side a is a shaft-bearing w. Inthe bearings 10 w is journaled a shaft W. Upon the end of shaft W, whichextends a short distance beyond the outer portion of the side (1 is acrank 20 Upon the sliding portion a of the cover, near its edge which isadjacent to the side a is attached a lug as, to which is pivoted one endof a rod or bar as, the other end of which rod is pivotally attached tothe crank w. To the end of the bell-crank lever V, extending over theside a is pivotally attached one end of a rod or bar 00 the other end ofwhich bar is pivotally connected with the crank e0 Upon the other end ofthe shaft W, which extends past the side a is provided a crank, (seeFig. 2,) and upon the plate a is a lug 00 to which is pivotally attachedone end of a bar. or rod so, the other end of which rod is pivotallyattached to the crank on said end of said bar W in the same manner asdescribed by the rod or bar so.

To the shaft W, between the operating-bars N N, is attached a lever W,which in the position shown rests upon the portion a of the top of thebox or receptacle A. Y Y are steam-pipes which connect with the interiorof the receptacle through the side 0?, near the respective ends of thebox, and steam is ad mitted by means of the stop-cocks y upon eachseparate pipe. To the bottom a of the receptacle is attached adischarge-pipe Z.

In the operation of my improved machine the box or receptacle A issupplied with hot liquid starch so as to fill the box to the line 7 ofthe upper edge of the pad on plate E, and

the steam admitted through the pipes Y Y,

whereby the starch is kept in a uniform heated condition. The articlesto be starched are placed within the feed-opening between the separateparts of the cover of the box and arranged against the pad upon theplate E,

which is submerged in and saturated with the liquid starch. The lever Won shaft W is then raised to a Vertical position, and the slidingportion a of the cover is drawn toward the inner edge of the fixed parta, the strip a on the sliding portion of the cover fitting closelyagainst the rubber strip 0 on said portion a of the cover, between whichparts the clothes are held while being starched and the hot starch isprevented from escaping. In the same movement of the lever W thebell-crank lever V throws the belt T from the loose pulley S to thefixed pulley R, anda reciprocating movement is immediately imparted tothe bars F F, and the plate H is forced forward within the starch andupon or against the articles lying against or upon the yielding pad.

In the forward movement of the plate H the full compression of the plateis obtained against the intermediate articles, and at the same time thesprings of the pad yield, thus forcing the starch into the fabric.without friction upon the surface. At the same time the plate H, beingperforated, allows the water to be discharged through the perforations,and thereby leaves the full strength of the starch itself within thearticle to be starched.

In the backward movement of plate H suction is caused upon the pad uponplate Eand upon the fabric or articles subjected to the starch, and thehot starch is drawn through the fabric and a considerable amount isretained between the folds of the material, thereby preventingblistering and insuring an evenly and perfectly starched garment.

In the starching of linen bosoms of shirts the starch is forced throughthe thickness of the linen, and for the purpose of increasing thequantity of starch in the bosom the process is repeated as long asnecessary to afford the result. In each reciprocatory movement of theplate H the pad is recharged with the starch, which in turn imparts thestarch to the fabric, and the compression causes the starch to form alayer and remain in the interstices of the goods, expelling the waterand leaving the solid part of the starch. As soon as sufficient starchhas been applied to the articles the lever W is forced in a downwarddirection upon the top plate a which action throws the belt T upon itsloose pulley and causes the sliding portion a to move back and open, sothat the goods may be removed from the receptacle A. The operation isthen repeated. It will be observed that the action of the lever W causesa combined movement of the belt-shifting device and the cover of thereceptacle.

Having fully described my invention, what I now claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A starching machine consisting of a receptacle for holding a suitablesupply of liquid starch, and a cover to said receptacle having separatefixed and sliding parts, a yielding pad connected with the sliding partof said cover, and extending within said receptacle, a compressing plateopposite said pad and means for communicating a reciprocating movementto said plate for the purpose described.

2. A starching machine consisting of a receptacle for holding a suitablesupply of liquid starch and a cover to said receptacle having separatefixed and sliding parts, a pad connected with the sliding part of saidcover extending within said receptacle, and a movable compression plateopposite said pad and mechanism connected with said sliding plate andsaid compression plate for operatingsaid parts simultaneously as and forthe purpose described.

3. A starching machine consisting of a receptacle for holding a suitablesupply of liquid starch and a cover to said receptacle having separatefixed and sliding parts, a yielding plate having a pad thereon connectedwith said sliding plate and extending within the receptacle, a movableplate opposite said pad, pivoted vibrating bars having pivoted bracebars connected with said movable plate, a bearing for said movable platewithin said receptacle and means for communicating a reciprocatingmovement to said vibrating bars for the purpose described.

LAVERN REYNOLDS. Witnesses:

W. A. SIMMONS, S. L. O. HASSON.

